2026 Conference Program

Supported by:

✦ Please note that this draft program may be subject to change. ✦

All times are displayed in Perth local time: Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) (GMT+8).

Sunday, 1 February 2026

12pm Registration opens
12.45pm –
2.15pm		 🍴  Lunch Break
2.15pm –
3.15pm

NextGen Session 1
3.15pm –
4.15pm

NextGen Session 2

Monday, 2 February 2026

8.30am –
9.30am		 Registration & Networking
9.30am –
9.45am		 Conference formally opens

Welcome to Country
Opening Remarks
9.45am –
10.50am		 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Common Law Corporations

Speaker: Professor Joshua Getzler, The University of Oxford
Chair: The Hon. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan, The Supreme Court of Western Australia

(CPD Category 4 – Substantive Law)
10.50am –
11.15am		 ☕️  Morning Tea
11.15am –
12.45pm		 CONCURRENT PANELS #1
Parallel Session 1

Theories of the Corporate Person		 Parallel Session 2

Corporate Stakeholders		 Parallel Session 3

Corporate Duties		 Practitioner Stream

Corporate Practices: Reflections and Lessons from Lives in the Law.

• The Hon. Justice Natalie Whitby, The Supreme Court of Western Australia
• Others TBC

(CPD Category 2 – Practice Management and Business Skills)
12.45pm –
1.45pm		 🍴  Lunch Break
1.45pm –
2.50pm		 PLENARY PANEL

The Good Corporate Citizen

Speakers:
  • Associate Professor Fiona McGaughey, The University of Western Australia (Modern Slavery)
  • Mr Tyson McEwan, The University of Western Australia (Advancing/enforcing Indigenous RAP/Procurement undertakings)
  • Ms Rebecca Faugno, The University of Western Australia (Corporate Rehabilitation Orders)
Chair: The Hon. Justice Jenni Hill, The Supreme Court of Western Australia

(CPD Category 4 – Substantive Law)
2.55pm –
4pm		 CONCURRENT PANELS #2
Parallel Session 1

ESG		 Parallel Session 2

Directors’ duties		 Parallel Session 3

Regulatory trends		 Practitioner Stream

Best Practice for Dealing with the Regulator

• Mr Joseph Longo, Chair of ASIC
• Ms Catherine Pedler, A&O Shearman
• Mr Jeremy Birch, Fourth Floor Chambers

Chair: Professor Sharon Mascher, UWA Law School

(CPD Category 3 – Professional Skills)
4pm –
4.20pm		 ☕️  Break
4.20pm –
5.25pm		 PLENARY PANEL

Indigenous peoples, corporate law and corporate realities

Chair: Mr Tyson McEwan, The University of Western Australia

(CPD Category 3 – Professional Skills)
5.30pm –
6.30pm		 CONCURRENT PANELS #3
Parallel Session 1

Corporate Culture
(CPD Category 2)		 Parallel Session 2

Corporate Governance		 Parallel Session 3

Remedies/penalties		 Practitioner Stream

Good Counsel

• Mr Paul D Evans, HFW Perth

Chair: The Hon. Justice Larissa Strk, The Supreme Court of Western Australia

(CPD Category 1 – Ethics)
7.30pm 🍴  CONFERENCE DINNER

Tuesday, 3 February 2026

8.30am Registration opens
9am –
10.05am		 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Conceptualising Corporate Groups

Speakers:
  • Professor Christian Witting, National University of Singapore
  • The Hon. Justice Katrina Banks-Smith, Federal Court of Australia

(CPD Category 4 — Substantive Skills)
10.05am –
10.25am		 ☕  Morning Tea
10.25am –
12pm		 CONCURRENT PANELS #4
Parallel Session 1

Mergers & Acquisitions/Competition		 Parallel Session 2

Corporate Restructures		 Parallel Session 3

Corporate Insolvencies
12pm –
1.30pm		 🍴  Lunch & Scola AGM
1.30pm –
2.35pm		 PLENARY PANEL

AI, Big Tech and Corporations Law

Speakers:
  • Professor Lusina Ho, Hong Kong University
  • Professor Jeannie Marie Paterson, University of Melbourne
  • The Hon. Justice Darren Jackson, Federal Court of Australia

(CPD Category 4 — Substantive Law)
2.40pm –
4pm		 CONCURRENT PANELS #5
Parallel Session 1

DAOs		 Parallel Session 2

Directors' Duties		 Parallel Session 3

Regulatory Challenges of AI in Corporate Law
4pm –
4.20pm		 ☕  Afternoon Tea
4.20pm –
5.25pm		 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

The Corporate State

Speaker: Professor Elise Bant, The University of Western Australia
Chair: Dr Antonio Buti, MLA

(CPD Category 4 — Substantive Law)

5.30pm Conference closing